Rapper Balen Shah sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister

Nepal’s rapper-turned-politician Balendra “Balen” Shah was sworn in as prime minister on Friday after his party swept the first national election since last year’s deadly anti-corruption uprising that toppled the government.

The 35-year-old leader and his Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) secured a commanding majority, winning 182 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives on a platform driven by youth activism and demands for political reform.

Dressed in black and wearing his signature dark sunglasses, Shah took the oath of office, pledging loyalty to the constitution. Crowds at the ceremony erupted in cheers as he formally assumed leadership.

The election followed months of unrest that claimed at least 77 lives. The protests, sparked by a brief social media ban, quickly grew into a nationwide rebellion against corruption and economic hardship in the country of 30 million people.

Shah broke his post-election silence on Thursday with a rap song released on social media, declaring, “The strength of unity is my national power.” The track, which featured clips from his campaign, garnered nearly three million views within hours.

He campaigned alongside RSP president and influential media personality Rabi Lamichhane, 51, a former deputy prime minister and interior minister who now returns to parliament with a key role in the new government.

Outgoing interim prime minister Sushila Karki, 73, a former chief justice who led the caretaker administration for six months, offered her farewell message in a televised address. She expressed confidence in the incoming youth-led government to fight corruption, create jobs, and steer Nepal toward economic growth and social justice.

Karki also confirmed that an investigative report on the deadly crackdown against protesters would be released soon. A leaked version of the report recommended the prosecution of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, who was ousted during the uprising and defeated by Shah in his home constituency.

Oli, 74, along with former interior minister Ramesh Lekhak and ex-police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung, was cited for failing to prevent excessive use of force. The report noted that, although no order to open fire was established, authorities made no effort to halt the shooting that killed at least 19 young people on the first day of protests.

Autopsies showed that 48 of 63 examined victims died from bullet wounds, most struck in the chest or head.